Metallurgical apparatus

ABSTRACT

The refining vessel wherein molten pig iron is refined by top blowing is provided with a nozzle which is removably fitted into a complementary opening provided in the sidewall of a decantation vessel into which the metal and slag overflow. The refining vessel is moved away from and thus withdraws its nozzle from the opening of the decantation vessel when the refractory material of the spout and/or refining vessel requires replacement or overhauling.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Claude Tsymbal Metz, France [21] Apple No. 853,253

[22] Filed Aug. 27, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19,1971

[7 3] Assignee lnstitut de Recherches de la Siderurgie Francaise Germain en Laye, France [32] Priority Aug. 28, 1968 [33] France [31] PV 164458 [54] METALLURGICAL APPARATUS l 1 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 266/38,

266/34 R [51] Int. Cl C2lb 7/14 [50] Field 01' Search 266/D1G. 6,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 998,787 7/191 1 Lohe 266/40 2,195,071 3/1940 Bahney et a1. 266/38 2,723,187 11/1955 Hubmann.... 266/38 2,962,278 11/1960 Goetz et al... 266/40 3,008,701 11/1961 Wiseman............... 266/38 3,353,807 1 1/1967 Sixel et a1. 266/40 Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: The refining vessel wherein molten pig iron is refined by top blowing is provided with a nozzle which is removably fitted into a complementary opening provided in the sidewall of a decantation vessel into which the metal and slag overflow. The refining vessel is moved away from and thus withdraws its nozzle from the opening of the decantation vessel when the refractory material of the spout and/or refining vessel requires replacement or overhauling.

METALLURGICAL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to metallurgical apparatus in general, and more particularly to improvements in metallurgical apparatus which comprise a plurality of vessels one of which receives molten metal from another vessel. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in connections or couplings between the vessels of metallurgical apparatus.

Continuous refining of metals is carried out in metallurgical apparatus embodying several vessels in each of which the metal is normally subjected to a different treatment. For example, apparatus for refining pig iron normally comprise a refining vessel wherein molten metal is subjected to top blowing which results in the formation of slag and a second vessel or decantation vessel which receives a mixture of metal and slag from the refining vessel and wherein the two ingredients are thereupon separated from each other in order to recover refined metal.

Since the physiochemical reactions in the refining vessel are not identical with reactions which take place in the decantation vessel, the two vessels are not subjected to equal wear. As a rule, the useful life of refractory lining in the refining vessel is much shorter than the useful life of lining in the decantation vessel. Also, the wear on component parts of the conduit which connects the two vessels is more pronounced than the wear on parts of the decantation vessel. Therefore, the refining vessel and the conduit which connects it with the decantation vessel require more frequent overhauling and/or replacement. Since the two vessels of conventional metallurgical apparatus are permanently or rigidly connected to each other, replacement or repair of the refining vessel consumes much time because such replacement or repair necessitates the dismantling or destruction of the rigid connection between the two vessels. It is clear that such work involves lengthy interruptions in the use of presently known metallurgical apparatus, especially since additional valuable time is lost when a new or an overhauled refining vessel is again connected to the decantation vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the instant invention is to provide a metallurgical apparatus wherein the vessels, in which a molten metal is subjected to different treatments, are connected to each other in a novel way to permit rapid separation and reconnection of one vessel to the other vessel or vice versa.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel separable connection between the refining vessel and the decantation vessel of a metallurgical apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallurgical apparatus which is assembled of several discrete vessels and wherein such vessels can be conveniently and repeatedly connected to or separated from each other in a novel and time-saving manner.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a metallurgical apparatus wherein extensive wear on one of its components does not necessitate discarding of other component or components.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a metallurgical apparatus with novel means for permitting overflow of molten metal and/or other fiowable substances from a refining vessel into a decantation vessel or a like receptacle wherein the thus received molten material is subjected to a further treatment.

The invention is embodied in a metallurgical apparatus which is particularly suited for refining and further processing of molten metals, for example, for top blowing and decanting of pig iron. The apparatus comprises two hollow vessels each having a lining of heat resistant material. One of these vessels is provided with a male portion or nozzle including a refractory part or conduit having a passage in communication with the interior of the one vessel. The other vessel comprises a wall having a female portion and the male portion of the one vessel is separably fitted into such female portion so that the male portion is automatically withdrawn when the one' vessel is moved away from the other vessel or vice versa.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved metallurgical apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a metallurgical apparatus where in the separable connection between two vessels is constructed and assembled in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through a modified connection, substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line II-II of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 3 is a front view substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line III-III of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a metallurgical apparatus which comprises a hollow refining vessel 1 and a hollow decantation vessel 2. The two vessels are separably coupled to each other in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. To this end, the reaction vessel 1 comprises a male portion or nozzle 3 which extends laterally from its sidewall and comprises an external armor or shell 4 of metallic material and an internal tubular lining or part 6 of heat-resistant refractory material. The armor 4 is rigid with the external metallic armor or shell 5 of the refining vessel I and the refractory part or lining 6 defines a substantially horizontal passage or channel 7 through which slag and molten metal can overflow into the interior of the decantation ves sel 2. The armor 4 is of frustoconical shape and tapers in a direction toward the interior of the vessel 2; this armor is received in a female portion of the adjacent sidewall of the vessel 2 which defines a complementary opening 8 bounded by a conical surface which tapers toward the interior of the vessel 2. The surface which surrounds the opening 8 is defined by a portion of the external metallic armor or shell 9 of the vessel 2 and this vessel further comprises an internal lining 10 of heat-resistant refractory material. The dimensions of the opening 8 depend on the dimensions of the nozzle 3, i.e., they are selected in such a way that the nonle can be properly fitted into the female portion of the vessel 2. It will be seen that the nozzle 3 extends inwardly and beyond the internal surface of the adjoining portion of the lining 10.

The parts 11, 12 of the armor 9 on the vessel 2 are designed in such a way that they respectively abut against the armor 5 and the front end face of the nozzle 3 to thus constitute stops which determine the extent to which the nozzle can penetrate into the vessel 2. If desired, the stops can be provided on the vessel 1 or each of these vessels may carry or include one or more stops to locate the nozzle in its inserted position.

If the apparatus of FIG. 1 is to be taken apart, the vessel 2 is simply moved away from the vessel 1 or vice versa so that the nozzle 3 is withdrawn from the opening 8. The apparatus is reassembled by moving the vessel I or 2 in the opposite direction to introduce the nozzle 3 into the opening 8. If the vessel 1 is defective, it can be readily disengaged from the vessel 2 and replaced with a vessel of similar dimensions whose nozzle is then introduced into the opening 8.

The construction of the remaining components of the apparatus forms no part of the present invention. FIG. I further shows a lance L for admission of oxygen into the vessel I and an outlet G for evacuation of gases which develop when the molten metal in the vessel 1 is refined in the presence of oxygen to form a foam consisting of molten metal and slag. Such foam then overflows into the vessel 2.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a portion of a second metallurgical apparatus. The male portion or nozzle of the hollow refining vessel comprises a metallic external armor or shell 13 which is of cylindrical shape and is rigid with the armor or shell 14 of the vessel 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the armor 13 extends along an arc of more than 180 and serves as a support for a trough-shaped layer 16 of heat insulating refractory material, and this layer in turn supports the lower section of a conduit or tubular part 17 consisting of refractory material. The conduit 17 constitutes the innennost part of the male portion or nozzle and includes a cylindrical median portion 18 and two frustoconical end portions 19, 21 each of which tapers away from the median portion 18. The end portion 19 is fitted and integrated into the cylindrical internal refractory lining 20 of the vessel 15. The other frustoconical end portion 21 of the conduit 17 extends beyond the armor l3 and into the female portion of the decantation vessel 24, namely into a complimentary opening provided in the refractory lining 23 of the vessel 24. That portion of the lining 23 which surrounds the end portion 21 forms a frustoconical seat or socket 22 and its internal surface tapers toward the interior of the vessel 24. The socket 22 constitutes more than one-half of a circumferentially complete conical frustum. The end portion 21 is automatically introduced into the socket 22 when the refining vessel 15 is moved horizontally toward the vessel 24. FIG. 2 shows that the bricks which form the conduit 17 overlap each other where the end portions 19, 21 merge into the median portion 18 in order to impart to this conduit a desired degree of stability. Such imbricated pattern of bricks has been found to be very satisfactory in the assembly of the conduit 17.

Once the conical end portion 21 of the conduit 17 is introduced into the lining 23 and embedded in the socket 22 with a joint 25, the exposed upper section of the median portion 18 is covered with a layer 26 of heat insulating material (see FIG. 3). The layer 26 not only provides a satisfactory thermal insulation for the conduit 17 but its weight also insures that the conduit cannot be displaced when the apparatus is in use. A metallic cover 27 is preferably applied over the insulating layer 26 to hold thelatters components in position.

FIG. 2 shows that the armor 13 of the nozzle is partially inserted into an aperture of complementary shape provided therefor in the outer wall 28 of the decantation vessel 24. The aperture in the outer wall 28 is surrounded by an armor 29 of metallic material. FIG. 2 further shows cooling compartments 30 which are provided between the armor 13 and layer 16 and serve to cool the lower section of the nozzle, i.e., the lower half of the conduit 17.

In order to separate the vessel 15 from the vessel 24, the cover 27 is removed in the first step, the layer 26 is removed in the next-following step, and the end portion 21 of the conduit 17 is thereupon withdrawn from the socket 22. All such steps can be completed within short periods of time. The vessel 15 can be replaced with a new refining vessel of identical dimensions.

The conduit 17 is preferably bonded to the lining 20 and layers 16, 26 by means of a suitable cement. In this way, the male portion or nozzle is made integral with the refining vessel 15, i.e., the same as in the apparatus of FIG. 1. Such permanent connection of the nozzle with the refining vessel 1 or 15 does not cause any problems because the wear on the nozzle is normally the same as the wear on the refining vessel, i.e.,

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Metallurgical apparatus, particularly for refining and further processing of molten metals, comprising a first and a second hollow vessel each having a lining of heat resistant material, one of said vessels comprising a male portion including a refractory part defining a passage in communication with the interior of said one vessel, a substantially cylindrical metallic external support for said refractory part and a layer of insulating material interposed between said support and said refractory part, said refractory part including a lower section surrounded by said support and an upper section and said male portion further comprising a removable refractory layer surrounding the upper section of said refractory part and a metallic cover overlying said layer, said one vessel further comprising an external metallic armor rigid with said support and the other vessel comprising a wall having a female portion, said male portion being separably fitted into said female portion.

2. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said male portion tapers in a direction toward the interior of said other vessel.

3. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said female portion has a conical surface which tapers from the exterior toward the interior of said other vessel.

4. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein said refractory part includes a substantially cylindrical median portion and two substantially frustoconical end portions each tapering in a direction away from said median portion, one of said end portions being rigid with the lining of said one vessel and the other end portion being separably received in the female portion of said other vessel.

5. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said female portion comprises a socket of frustoconical shape.

6. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said socket surrounds more than one half of said refractory part.

7. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said refractory part comprises a frustoconical end portion and said female portion defines an opening bounded by a frustoconical surface which surrounds said end portion.

8. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said refractory part comprises a substantially cylindrical median portion received in said wall of the other vessel.

9. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said male portion is provided with cooling compartments.

l0. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said compartments are disposed between said support and said lower section.

11. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for bonding said refractory part to the lining of said one vessel. 

1. Metallurgical apparatus, particularly for refining and further processing of molten metals, comprising a first and a second hollow vessel each having a lining of heat resistant material, one of said vessels comprising a male portion including a refractory part defining a passage in communication with the interior of said one vessel, a substantially cylindrical metallic external support for said refractory part and a layer of insulating material interposed between said support and said refractory part, said refractory part including a lower section surrounded by said support and an upper section and said male portion further comprising a removable refractory layer surrounding the upper section of said refractory part and a metallic cover overlying said layer, said one vessel further comprising an external metallic armor rigid with said support and the other vessel comprising a wall having a female portion, said male portion being separably fitted into said female portion.
 2. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said male portion tapers in a direction toward the interior of said other vessel.
 3. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said female portion has a conical surface which tapers from the exterior toward the interior of said other vessel.
 4. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said refractory part includes a substantially cylindrical median portion and two substantially frustoconical end portions each tapering in a direction away from said median portion, one of said end portions being rigid with the lining of said one vessel and the other end portion being separably received in the female portion of said other vessel.
 5. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said female portion comprises a socket of frustoconical shape.
 6. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said socket surrounds more than one half of said refractory part.
 7. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said refractory part comprises a frustoconical end portion and said female portion defines an opening bounded by a frustoconical surface which surrounds said end portion.
 8. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said refractory part comprises a substantially cylindrical median portion received in said wall of the other vessel.
 9. MetallurgicAl apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said male portion is provided with cooling compartments.
 10. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said compartments are disposed between said support and said lower section.
 11. Metallurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for bonding said refractory part to the lining of said one vessel. 